Today the President designated the fifth annual set of
determinations of drug traffickers who will be subject to the sanctions
provided in the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act ("Kingpin
Act"). This action brings the total number of individuals and entities
designated under the Kingpin Act to 48, since the first designations
were made in 2000. This is the second year the President has
identified foreign entities as kingpins.

This action underscores the President's determination to do
everything possible to pursue drug traffickers, undermine their
operations, and end the suffering that trade in illicit drugs inflicts
on Americans and other people around the world, as well as preventing
drug traffickers from supporting terrorists.

The Kingpin Act, which became law in December 1999, targets
significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their organizations and
operatives worldwide, denying them access to the U.S. financial system
and all trade and transactions involving U.S. companies and
individuals. The Kingpin Act does not target the countries in which
these foreign individuals and entities are operating or the governments
of such countries.

The additional foreign individuals and entities that the President
has designated as appropriate for sanctions under the Kingpin Act are: